Fin assembly machine for heatexchange cores



Aug. 1, 1950 F. M. YOUNG FIN ASSEMBLY MACHINE FOR HEAT-EXCHANGE CORES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14. 1945 Aug, 1, 1950 F. M. YOUNG FIN ASSEMBLY MACHINE FOR HEAT-EXCHANGE CORES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1945 F. M. YOUNG FIN ASSEMBLY MACHINE FOR HEAT-EXCHANGE CORES Aug. 1 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 14, 1945 F. M. YOUNG FIN ASSEMBLY MACHINE FOR HEAT-EXCHANGE CORES Aug. "1, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 14. 1945 m aw E rLllill Aug. 11, 1950 F. M. YOUNG FIN ASSEMBLY MACHINE FOR HEAT-EXCHANGE CORES Filed May 14. 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 1, 1950 F. M. YOUNG FIN ASSEMBLY MACHINE FOR HEAT-EXCHANGE CORES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 14. 1945 Patented Aug. 1, 1950 FIN ASSEMBLY MACHINE FOR HEAT- EXCHANGE CORES Fred M. Young, Racine, Wis., assignor to Young Radiator Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 14, 1945, Serial No. 593,671

19 Claims.

. 1 1 This invention relates assemble laminae of a type which in the manufacture of heat-exchange equipment are described as fins. In a heat-exchange unit a. predetermined number of these laminae or fins are arranged in closely-spaced parallel relationship for support on and in heat dissipating contact with a plurality of transverse tubes extending through registering holes formed in. the several laminae.

A heat-exchange unit comprising such assembled to a machine adapted to into the laminae-assembling jig; to provide improved control means for synchro e p ation of the several means by which the laminae are advanced, selected, and subsequently injected into the laminae-assembling jig with each other,

and with means for advancing the magazine along tubes and laminae thus is adapted for use with fluids of different temperatures, one of which flows through said tubes and the other of which flows cross-wise of and around the tubes between said laminae. The heat from the fluid of higher temperature is thereupon transferred to the fluid of lower temperature.

These laminae, or fins, are comparatively thin, having a thickness of around .004 of an inch.

Generally they are hemmed along their lateral edges for the purpose of reinforcement. Moreover, the slots or holes for the tubes are formed by striking up the metal to form perimetral flanges around the holes designed to increase the area of contact between the fins and tubes and thereby accelerate the transfer of heatbetween the tubes and the fins. The length and width of these laminae or fins vary, depending upon the size of the heat-exchange unit to be formed therewith.

Preparatory to inserting the tubes through the fins to make up the heat-exchange unit, apredetermined number of laminae or fins has to be assembled in a jig in such a way that the tube slots or holes are brought into alignment to permit the subsequent forcing of the tubes through the registering slots or holes in the assembled fins.

Heretoiore it has been necessary to assemble these laminae or fins in a jig by hand. As dexterous as men have become at the task, it is slow and consequently expensive as compared with what would be the case if they could be assembled by machine.

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide an improved form of laminaeor fin-assembling machine wherein laminae are selected from a magazine and injected into an means for supporting, selecting, and advancing mechanisms so constructed and so correlated in their operation that a predetermined number of laminae are successively advanced into position for individual selection and subsequent injection said jig; to provide an improved carriage for the laminae-supporting, -advancing, -selecting, and -injecting mechanisms; to provide improved means for advancing said carriage along said assembling jig so as to permit the seriatim injection of the laminae into said jig; and to provide an improved mechanism of this kind which, although involving many means and mechanisms for accomplishing these various purposes, is comparatively simple in construction, certain in operation, and which results in a material saving in time and expense in the assembling of a predetermned number of laminae or fins as the first step in the subsequent construction of heat-exchange cores of varying size and capacity.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a perspective view of a section of a heat-exchange core, the laminae ,or fins for which are adapted for assembling on a laminae-assembling machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of an individual lamina;

Fig. '3 is a perspective view of a section of one of the tubes, a plurality of which are subsequently inserted through the registering apertures of the assembled laminae thereby constituting a heatexchange core as shown in Fig, 1; M

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit and switches by which the advance of the laminae in the laminae-magazine is controlled through the coaction of control means actuated by the laminae-selecting mechanism and the magazine-advancing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a heat-exchange coreassemblingmachine embodying a fin-assembling mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention and a tube-assembling mechanism constructed in accordance with applicants. copending application Ser. No. 589,790, filed April 23, 1945, issued as Patent No. 2,410,140, October 29, 1946. Parts of the fin-assembly jig and the frame are broken away in order to reveal more clearly the power operating units for the machine;

Fig. 6 is a right-hand elevation of the combined machine;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. Bis a left-hand elevation of the combined machine;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged. partly sectional, elevation 3 of all of that part of the machine related to the advancing of the laminae in the magazine, transferring them to the chute through which they are injected into the assembly jig;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the microswitches and the operating means actuated by the laminae-selecting mechanism for controlling the laminae in the laminae magazine.

The section of a heat-exchange core shown in Fig. 1, for the assembling of which the machine, embodying this invention and that of the aforesaid co-pending application, was constructed, comprises a plurality of parallelly-arranged laminae or fins ii which are supported on a plurality of parallelly-arranged tubes 52. When such a core section is associated with suitable headers connecting the opposite ends of the tubes and with plates (not shown) attached on two sides of the assembled fins a fluid passing longitudinally through the tubes 62 and another fluid passing transversely of and around the tubes l2 between the laminae ii the heat of the fluid with the higher temperature is transferred to the fluid of the lower temperature.

The laminae H, as more fully appears from Fig. 2, is in the form of a strip of thin sheet metal. A plurality of parallel series of slots or holes 63 are punched therein in such a way as form lateral flanges i l and end flanges l5. These flanges i4 and i5 tend to grip the flat tubes if, when they are inserted through the registering apertures in an assembly of the laminae ii, so as to increase the surface contact of the fins on the tubes and thereby facilitate the transfer of heat between the differently-temperaturcd fluids passing through and around the tubes l2. The laminae H, in between the holes l3, have spots i5 up-set to enlarge the surface contact of the metal with the fluid passing between the fins whereby to facilitate the transference of heat. These up-sets also have a tendency to reinforce the laminae.

The tubes 52 are likewise formed of a thin sheet metal similar to that out of which the laminae H are formed. They are preferably as shown in Fig. 3, since in that form there is a higher coeflicient of heat transfer between the fluid and the tube.

The preferred embodiment of the heat-transfer core-forming machine shown in the drawings comprises a main supporting frame i? on which is positioned a fin-assembling jig is adapted to receive laminae or fins H from a laminaeor fin-handling mechanism l9 mounted on a carriage 25 and movable along the jig l8 by a powerdriven unit 2i mounted on a frame ll. Following the assembly of a predetermined number of laminae l! the appropriate number of tubes i2 are pressed through the registering holes I3 by means of tube-assembling mechanism 22 arranged on the frame I l and operated by power means 23, likewise supported on said frame ii, and which constitutes the subject matter of the previously identified co-pending application.

The main supporting frame ll comprises a pair of lateral angle bars 24 and 25 and a pair of end bars 25 and 21, forming the top of Said supporting frame and intermediate lateral bars 32 and end bars 33 forming a support for a platform 34 mounted on legs 28. The platform 34 provides a support for the power units 2! and 23 as will more fully hereinafter appear. The lower ends of the legs are provided with telescopic extensions 29 which have apertures 3i] registering with appropriate apertures in said main leg members through which bolts 3i extend to permit the height from the floor of the mechanism supported on the frame to be adjusted.

The laminaeor fin-assembling jig l8 comprises lower and upper members 35 and 35 having their opposed faces formed with grooves 31. These members are supported in adj ustably spaced relationship by suitable bolts 38 and nuts 39, fixed on the angle bars 24 and 25 at the four corners of the members 35 and 36. These grooved members 35 and 35 constitute a type of jig commonly used for hand-assembling of laminae ii. Jigs IS, with a varying spacing of the grooves, may be mounted on the frame ll and the distance between the grooved faces may be altered by adjusting the bolts and nuts 38 and 39 to accommodate laminae of varying widths.

The laminae-handling mechanism 19 comprises a chute 40 associated with a laminaemagazine 4| so that a laminae-selecting mechanism 42 transfers the laminae one at a time from the magazine 4! to the chute 40 as laminaeadvancing mechanism 43 keeps the uppermost lamina in the magazine 4i in position to be transferred from the magazine 4| to the chute 45 whence each lamina is injected into the assembly jig I 8 through the action of a laminaeinjecting mechanism 44.

The laminae-injection chute 40 and the laminae magazine iii are contiguously arranged on the carriage 25 which is adapted to move the chute 453 along the assembly jig I8 so that the laminae H, upon delivery to the chute 4B, are successively injected into the registering pairs of grooves 31 of the members 35 and 36.

The chute 45 comprises a pair of vertical walls 45 and 4% having their lower ends flanged and nested as at 4'1, so as to form a bottom for the chute, and having their outer ends secured to a vertical end wall 48 and at their inner ends by walls 49 and 55 beyond which said walls 45 and 46 extend into juxtaposition with the assembly jig IS. The wall 45 is formed with an extension 5! disposed slightly at an angle, and terminating in a horizontal shelf 52 with a dependent flange 53. The extension 5|, ledge 52, and flange 53 are secured to the outer end wall 48 and to the inner end wall :50. The upper end of the chute wall 45 is arched outwardly from the extension 5| and at its lateral edge is secured to the back 5 of the laminae magazine 4!. A bracket 47 secured to the magazine back 54 affords a support for the chute 49. g

The laminaeor fin-magazine 4i comprises the back wall 5% associated with the end plates 48 and 49 and a movable platform or elevator 55. The back wall 54 extends at an angle outwardly and downwardly from the upper end. of the chute wall 43 practically parallel with the extension 5! of the chute wall The end walls 48 and 49 are provided with inwardly-extending flanges 55 and 51 which coact with the back wall 5 3 and the platform 55 to complete the laminae-magazine 4|.

The laminae-selecting mechanism #52, whereby laminae ii are transferred one at a time from the magazine 4i to the chute 45!, comprises a pair of selector arms 58 mounted on a tubular rocker shaft 59 and actuated bya rack ac operated by a motor 8! through lever-link mechanism 62.

The arms 58 of tubular construction and eguipped at their lower ends with suction or vacuum cups 63 whereby a suction through the hollow rocker shaft 59 will cause the laminae ii to be picked up, in a manner common with.

asiacvo 9 printing press mechanisms. The arm 58 has the form of an arc aboutthe center of the rocker shaft 59 and extends through holes (it in the extension I which serves to strip the laminae from the suction cups 63, to fall into the chute 40, when the cups 63 recede back of said extension 5|.

j The rocker shaft 59 is journalled in bearings 65 on the back of the chute wall 45 and has a tube 66 connected to a source of vacuumor suction I25. The rack 69 is mounted on a shaft 61 journalled on a plate 68 secured to the chute back 65 so that the teeth at 69 thereof mesh with the teeth on a gear I9 secured to the rocker shaft 59. The motor 6|, which operates the rack 60 for actuating the rocker arms 58, is shown here in the form of an air pump. The cylinder 'II is secured to the back 55 of the magazine 51 and the plunger stem i2 is connected by a link it to operate the lever-link mechanism 62.

I The lever-link mechanism 82 includes a bell crank lever I5 journalled on a shaft it, one arm i l of which is connected to the link 73 and the other arm ll of which is connected by a link 7&3 to an arm '19 secured to the shaft 5'! on which the rack BI is mounted. As will be clearly observed from Fig. 9, the link I8 is adjustably connected to the bell-crank lever-arm ll and to thearm 79 so as to insure the proper action of motor ti on the rocker arms 58 through the coaction of the rack 69 and pinion Ill.

The cylinder H of the air motor E5! is connected by a pipe or tube 89 to a suitable source of air pressure through a valve mechanism hereinafter described. A spring TM connects the arm I! with the back M of the magazine ii so as to normally shift the link mechanism t2 against the action of the air motor GI.

The laminaeor fin-advancing means for the magazine t! comprises, a pair of racks 8i and a pair of gears 82 driven by a motor 83 under the control of a clutch mechanism 8 (see Figs. 6 and 8). The racks iii are connected at their upper ends to the platform 55 and are supported in extended bearings 55 secured to a plate 86 supported between the end plates 18 and iii below and near their lower ends. The gears or pinions 82 are mounted on a shaft 8? journalled in bearings 88 and which is connected to the motor 83 through a suitable reduction gear 89.

The clutch mechanism 34 may be of any suitable type designed to connect and disconnect the shaft 8? in driving relationship with the motor 83, depending upon the position of the clutch as shifted by lever 90.

The laminaeor fin-injecting mechanism 44 comprises a pair of feed rollers 9! located at the mouth of the chute M and driven bya motor 92 and a constantly rotating brush 93 driven by a motor as. The brush 93 anclfeed rollers 9! coact to inject the laminae iI into the fin-assembling jig 58 as said laminae are dropped into the chute 49 after being stripped from the rocker arms 58.

The feed rollers 98 are journalled on vertical axes at the inner end of the chute t9 adjacent to the assembly jig it. They have their peripheries spaced apart approximately the thickness of a laminae I I so that when a lamina is brought into contact with said rollers it is snapped into a pair of registering grooves 3i in the assembly jig I8. The shafts for these rollers M are, connected together at their lower ends by means of suitable gears so that they revolve in opposite directions,

and one of these shafts is connected withthe motor 92 by means of abelt 95. l

The brush 93 is mounted on anextension 96 of the motor housing 94 wherein is contained suitable reduction gear connecting the brush to the motor 94. The motor 9d in turn isniounted on a bracket 97 which is hinged on a pin 98 fixed to the underside of the chute it so that the brush 93 may be horizontally shifted to intermittently project the periphery thereof through a .slot in the chute wall t5 into contact with a lamina II in the chute 4B for the purpose of advancing the lamina into contact with the feed rollers 9| The reciprocal'movement of the brush 93, to bring the periphery into and out of such contact with the laminae, results from a coaction of the spring 99 and a cable I 60. The spring 99 embraces the pin 98 and is connected so as toriormally retract the brush. The cable I (it extending over an idler HM connects a luglfli. on the bracket 9? with an arm H33 connected to the shaft (6: Thus, the movement of the brush 93 into contact with a lamina in the chute lfi is synchronized with the operation of the fill-selecting means 42 under the influence of the motorfil. Obviously, the angular position of the arm I03 on the shaft it with respect to the arms of the bell crank lever 15 may be adjusted so as to ensure the proper synchronization of the swing of the brush 93 with the stripping of the laminae from the rocker arms 58 by means of the stripper plate 5!.

The carriage 20 upon which is supported the fin-handling mechanism I9, is mounted for travel along the frame I! by means of a roller-- supported bar IM and a bracket I631. The bar I04 is secured to the end plate 48 of the laminaehandling mechanism I9 and at its ends are journalled rollers ms traveling on a track ItB. The track I96 is part of an auxiliary framesupported at on'e'side of the frame IT. The bracket ID! is secured to the end 59 of the laminae-handling mechanism I9 and slidably supported on shafts I98 and I99 which are journalled on bearings II!) and III at the adjacent side of the supporting frame I1.

The shaft I98 has screw-threaded connection with the bracket I01. The pitch of the shaft thread is equal to that of the grooves 31 in the members 35 and 36 of the laminae-assembly jig I8. The shaft I08 is driven by a gear andpinion mechanism H2 and H3 through the medium of the shaft I89 which is connected. to the power unit 2! as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out. I i

As will be observed from Fig. 6, the gear H2 and pinion II3 are of the intermittent type so that for one-half the revolution of the gear II2 the pinion II3 remains stationary while during the other half revolution of the gear II2 the pinion makes a complete revolution. Thus, when the teeth of the gear H2 and pinion I I I3 are in mesh, the carriage 20 is moved the distance between adjacent grooves 31 in the assembly jig I8. When the flat parts of the gear I I2 and pinion I I3 are in mesh, the carriage remains stationary with respect to assembly jig I8, during which time the laminae-injecting mechanism is functioning for the purpose of inserting a lamina I I into a registering pair of grooves 37 of the assembly jig I8.

The power unit .2I comprises, a n1otor-II4 which is conneoted to the shaft I99 through the medium of a conventional reduction gear H5, a. conventional speed-adjusting mechanism IIS and a cha n ae spmck t mechani m J H. ti -he r 3 auction gear H5 is connected by a belt IIB to the cone pulleys II9 of the speed-adjusting mechanism IIB which, in turn, are connected by belt I20 to the motor I I4 mounted on the platform 34. The effective ratio of the cone pulleys H9 is altered by the turning of the crank IZI in a manner that is well-known with this conventional type of device.

The tube-insertion mechanism 22 with its power-driven means 23 constitutes the subject matter of applicants co-pending application hereinbefore identified.

Two sets of control mechanisms are employed for synchronizing the functioning of the motor 6|, which actuates the laminaeor fin-selecting mechanism 42, and the motor 83, which actuates the fin-advancing mechanism 43. The former control mechanism comprises, a cam-actuated valve I24 (see Figs. 5 and 8) for controlling the admission of air to the cylinder 1! through the air line 80 to a source of compressed air. The latter control mechanism employs a standard type of magnetic switch I20 (see Figs. 4 and 9) connected to the motor 83 and controlled by specially-arranged micro-switches actuated by the laminaeor fin-selecting mechanism 42 and the carriage-advancing mechanism 20, as will more fully hereinafter be pointed out.

The valve mechanism I24 is positioned so as to be operated by a cam I21 driven by the power means 2|. As herein shown, the valve 124 is mounted on the reduction gear housing H5 and the cam IZ'Iis mounted on the shaft driven by said reduction gear H5 and which is connected to the shaft I09 by the gear and sprocket mechanism I I1. The cam is formed with approximately circumferentially-equal high and low cam surfaces I23 and I29 upon which rides a roller I30 supported on an arm I3I connected to the valve mechanism I24. A spring I33 holds the rocker arm I 3! to keep the roller I30 in contact with the cam I21. The cam I21 is so positioned on the shaft of said reduction gear II5 that the opening and closing of the valve mechanism I24, to admit air to or cut ofi the air from. the cylinder II of the motor BI, is synchronized with the periods of movement and rest of the carriage 29 as effected by the intermittent gear and pinion II2I !3.

The valve mechanism I24 is interposed in the pipe or tube 80 leading from the cylinder II of the air motor 5| to a suitable source of air pressure.

The magnetic switch I25, through which the operation of the motor 83 of the fin-advancing mechanism 43 is controlled, employs a solenoid I36 (see Fig. 4) connected to mechanically actuate simultaneously switch means I31, I35. and I39, which switches are connected in circuits, as will be hereinafter pointed out. so as to control the operation of the motor 83 under the influence of micro-switches :r, and z, and k, and a pushbutton switch m (see Figs. 4, 9, and

The micro-switches :1: and 1/ are adapted. to control the starting and stopping, respectively, of the motor 83 so as to keep the uppermost lamina in the magazine 4I within the effective range of the rocker arm 58. That range is indicated by the lines (In) and (11/) on Fig. 9. These switches at and y are mounted in close juxtaposition to each other on supports I40 and I41 on the back of the stripper plate 5 I, which forms an extension to the chute wall 45, so as to be actuated by arms I42 and I43 (see Fig. 10) connected to the tubular rocker shaft 59.

The micro-switch a is arranged to coact with the switch a: to stop the motor 83 (as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out) when the uppermost lamina in the magazine M has reached the upper limit of the effective range of the rocker arm 53 as indicated by (.r) in Fig. 9. This switch is mounted on a support I44 secured to the frame I? so as to be operated by a cam I45 connected to the shaft I09. The cam I45 is of such a shape and so positioned on the shaft I09 that its contact with the roller on the spring arm I45 shifts the button I45" of the micro-switch a so as to be constantly opening and closing the circuit across the terminals I58 and I6 I. The cam holds the switch 2 open at all times when the arm I43 of the switch at is moving over the button I 43-during the recurring reciprocation of the rocker arm 58except when the uppermost laminae in the' magazine is approaching the line (y) The micro-switch k is mounted on the end plate 49 and is adapted to break the circuit to the motor 83 when the platform 55 for the magazine 4| has reached the upper limit of its movement.

As shown in the diagrammatic View of Fig. 4, the terminals I31 and I38 of the switches I31 and I38, respectively, are connected with the positive and negative terminals and I41 of a suitable plug for connection to the usual power line. The terminals I31" and I38" of the switches I31 and I38 respectively, are connected by lines I43 and I49 to one terminal I50 of the micro-switch 7c and one of the terminals of the motor 33; the other terminal [5| of the microswitch 7c being connected to the other terminal of the motor 83. The terminal I39 is connected by the line I52 to the terminal I53 of the microswitch at and to one of the terminals of the manually-operated switch m. The terminal I39 of the switch I39 is connected by a line I54 to one of the terminals I55 of the micro-switch y.

The solenoid I35 is inserted in a line I56 leading from the incoming line I45 to the line I54. The terminal 551 of the micro-switch x is connected by a line I59 to the line I49 and to the negative incoming line I41. The terminal I58 of the switch 2 is connected by a line I64 to the line I59. The other terminal IBI of the microswitch a is connected through the manuallycontrolled switch m to the terminal I53 of the micro-switch :r.

The switch-arms I42 and I43 are so fixed on the tubular rocker-shaft 59 that they effect the closing and opening of the switches 11 and r, respectively, when the foremost lamina of the magazine registers approximately with the lines (y) and (m) of Figs. 9 and 10. The closing of the normally open switch y is accomplished when the arm I42 reaches extreme limit of its arcuate path of reciprocal movement complementary of the limit of reciprocal movement of the rocker arm 58 as determined by the foremost lamina at approximately the line (y). The momentary opening of the normally-closed switch as occurs with every passage of the arm I43 over the button I43, during the reciprocal movement of the arm 58. When the uppermost laminae in the magazine 4i register with a position comparable to the line (ac) of Fig. 9 the arm I43 is temporarily at rest on the button I43. This opens the bridge across the terminals I53 and I51 so that upon the next subsequent depression of the button I45", by the arm M5 as effected by the cam I45, the bridge across the terminals I58 and IBI is opened whereupon the circuit to the motor 83 is out and 9 the advance of the laminae in the magazine is arrested.

The motor I I4 is a reversible motor and is connected with a suitable source of power and with micro-switches I62 and I53 positioned at opposite ends of the track I06 for the carriage 20 adapted to be contacted by suitable shoulders on said carriage so that the power to the motor Il i will be out out as the carriage 20 reaches the respective limits of its travel along the frame II within the operative range for injecting laminae into the assembly jig I8.

Brushes I 65 are placed on the chute walls 48 and 49 to engage the ends of the laminae so as to lessen the probabilities that more than one lamina will be carried by the arms 58 to the chute 40.

The operation of this lamineeor fin-assembling machine involves three synchronated cycles:

a. The transferring of the lamina into the chute and their subsequent injection into the assembly jig;

b. The intermittent advance of the carriage to bring the fin chute successively into registration with the grooves in the assembly jig; and

c. The advancing of the laminae in the laminae-magazine to keep the foremost lamina in the magazinewithin the effective range of the mechanism by which the lamina are transferred from the magazine to the chute.

(a) The laminae-transferring Operation.

The laminae II are transferred one at a time from the laminae magazine 4| to the chute 43 through the recurring reciprocation of the rocker arm 58 under the counter-actin impulse of the feed rollers 9I occurs as the carriage, comes to rest from the foregoing movement.

The movement of the rocker-arm 58 from the position shown in Fig. 9 to a point rearwardly of the stripper plate I to transfer a lamina from the magazine 4| to the chute All, is controlled by the action of the cam I21. When the roller I35 of the arm I3I moves from the high spot I23 to the low spot I29, the valve I24 is opened to admit air to the cylinder II of the air motor 5|. This shifts the plunger in the cylinder "II so as to cause the link mechanism 62 to shift the rack 60 downward (see Fig. 9). Thereupon the pinion 70 turns the tubular shaft 59 so as to swing the arm 58, with a lamina II suctionally gripped by lit in the stripper plate 5I. As the cups 63 pass through these openings the lamina is stripped therefrom and by gravity dropped into the chute 4B.

Simultaneously with the backward swinging" of the arm 53, the motor bracket 91 is swung to retract the brush 93 to clear the chute 40. Such retraction of the brush 93 is effected by means of the cable Iilil. I

As the roller I30 on the arm I3I moves from the low spot I29 on the cam I21 to the high spot I28, the valve I24 is closed to cut off the admission of compressed air to themotor BI. Thereupon the spring TI.I reverses the movement of the rack 60 through the action of the link mechanism Bland causes the rocker arm 58 to be returned to the position shown in Fig. 9 to suctionally grip another lamina in the magazine H. Al; the same time the spring 99 shifts the motor bracket 91 to move the brush 93 to bring the periphery thereof into contact with the lamina when has just been dropped into the chute 40.

The brush instantly advances the lamina to the feed rollers BI which, with accelerated action, inject the lamina into a registering pair of grooves 31 of the assembly-jig I8.

consequent advanceof thecarriage 20 a distance equalto, the pitcher the grooves 31 of theassemblyjig 15.1 During this advancing movement of the carriagethe above-mentioned laminae-transferring. mechanism operates to transfer lamina from the magazine- 4| to the chute 40.

(c) Lcminwadvancmg mechanism As will be obvious from Fig. 9, the foremost lamina in the magazine III must be kept within the effective range of the rocker arm 58 to secure the best results in the inerrant pickup of the laminae by the suction cups 63 with each downward movement of said arm. To this end, the elevator or platform must be intermittently advanced so that the foremost lamina occupies a position in the range between the lines (.r) and (y). Thus, when the foremost lamina is approximately on the line (y), Fig. 9, the motor 83 must be started to cause the elevation of the platform 55. When the foremost lamina is approximately at the line (1:) the operation of the motor 83 must be discontinued. It is to these ends that the micro-switches :c, y, and. e, have been arranged as hereihbefore pointed out.

I When the foremost lamina in the magazine i-I is approximately at the line (y) (see Fig. 9) the contact of the arm I42, on the rocker-shaft 59,

engagesthe arm I42 sufiiciently to cause it to depress the button I42" and cause the switch 11 I to bridge the contacts I55 and IBIl (see Fig. 4).

This results in a closing of the circuit through i the solenoid I35 of the magnetic switch I25 and the cups 63, and retracts it through the opening closes all three switches I31, I38, and I39 (see Fig. 4) I The circuit, upon the closing of the microswitch y, may be traced as follows:

Lines I45 and I56, solenoid I36, line I54, contact I 55, contact I and line I60 from which the current continues through line I59 to line I 47 through whichever of the micro-switches a or a: is closed.

Obviously, the closing of this circuit by microswitch 1; and the consequent shifting of the solenoid I36 is instantaneous. However, the closing of the switch I39 maintains a holding circuit through the solenoid I35 so that the energization thereof is continued. The circuit for that purpose may be traced through the lines I46, I55, solenoid I35, contact I39", switch bar I39, contact I39 and line I52, from which the current has the option of continuing through line I59 to line I 4! depending upon which of the microswitches a or a: is closed.

I The simultaneous shifting of the switches I31 and I38 closes the circuit to the motor 83 and causes it to move the elevator 55 to advance the laminae along the magazine M. The circuit to the motor may be traced through the line I45, contact I31, switch bar I'3'I, contact I31", line I48, contacts I50 and II of micro-switch 70, motor 83, line I49, contact I38", switch bar I38, contact I38, line M1. The motor 83 continues to operate to advance the laminae in the magazine 4I until the foremost lamina approximates the position shown by line (as) (see Fig. 9).

When the foremost lamina is approximately at the line (at) the arm I43, on the tubular shaft 59, is brought to rest on the button I43 on the micro-switch m, retracting the bridge thereof so as to open the contacts I53 and I5! (see Fig. 4) whereby the above-described holding circuit to the solenoid I36 is broken and the solenoid is de-energized, allowing the conventional spring to retract simultaneously the switches I31, I38, and I39. The design and position of the cam I45 is such that the arm I45 is retracted to depress the button I55" to open micro-switch a when the arm I43 is at the above position of rest on the button I43. Thus, the simultaneous opening of both of the micro-switches w and 3 results in a breaking of the circuit to the motor 83, checking any further advance of the laminae in the magazine.

When the laminae in the magazine 4I have been advanced so that the last lamina for completing a particular assembly in the jig I8 has been transferred from the magazine M to the chute 40, the platform 55 will actuate the switch is so as to disconnect the contacts I58 and I5I, thereupon opening the circuit to the motor 83 and preventing any further operation thereof for the advance of laminae in the magazine 4 I.

The readying of the machine for automatically effecting the above-mentioned synchronized cycles of operation involves setting the carriage 2D, with its laminae-handling mechanisms, at one end or the other of the assembly-jig I8, and loading the magazine M with laminae.

A switch (not shown) is conveniently arranged on the frame II, forwardly or to the right of the carriage and its laminae-handling mechanisms I9, and connected to control the starting of the motor I I4. Wherever the carriage 20 may have stopped with respect to the assembly-jig I8, this switch would be operated to cause the power driven unit ZI to move the carriage 2!] to bring the chute into registration with the first pair of grooves 31 at one end or the other of the assembly-jig I3.

In order to load the magazine 4| it is obviously necessary to reverse the operation of the motor 83 so as to lower the platform 55 to the bottom of the chute. This is effected by simply shifting the arm 99 to release the clutch 84, whereupon the platform 55 may be depressed.

Thereupon the operator places a predetermined number of laminae on the platform 55 with one hand on the push-button for the switch m, the operator with the other hand moves the rocker arms 58 so as to bring the suction cups 63 below the level of the line (y) (see Fig. 9) in order to cause the switch arm I42 to shift the arm I42 to depress the button I43", thus closing the switch y. This will close the circuit to the motor 83 in exactly the same way as hereinbefore pointed out in connection with the description of the automatic operation of switch 51;. By shifting the arm 91 so as to engage the clutch 3d, the motor 33 will elevate the platform 55 until the foremost lamina comes in contact with the suction cups 63 of the arms 58 and retracts said cups to approximately the line ((8) (see Fig. 9). The switch I43 will have depressed the button I43 of the switch as so as to open the circuit to the motor 33 and discontinue the elevation of the platform 55. Thereupon, the operator releases the push-button switch 172.

The machine then being ready to operate, the operator closes the general control switch to the motor I I4, whereupon the machine begins its automatic operation of transferring laminae from the magazine M to the chute at, from whence they are injected into the assembly-jig it as the machine intermittently advances along said jig, as hereinbefore set forth.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a horizontally-disposed laminae-receiving element adapted to receive laminae through an open side of said element and support said laminae in vertical parallel disposition, a horizontally-extending chute of narrow cross section sufficient to support individual lamina therein vertically on edge, a lamina: magazine associated with said chute, means for successively transferring laminae one at a time from said magazine to said chute, a pair of high-speed continuously-rotating rollers located at the delivery end of said chute for injecting said vertically-disposed laminae horizontally from said chute through said open side into said receiving element, means other than and op erating independently of said selector means for advancing laminae received in said chute into engagement with said rollers, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means.

2. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a laminae-receiving element, a chute for delivering laminae to said receiving element, a laminae magazine associated with said chute, means for successively transferring lamina from said magazine to said chute, a pair of high-speed continuouslyrotating rollers located at the delivery end of said chute for injecting lamina from said chute into said receiving element, a continuously-rotating brush mounted for reciprocal movement to bring the periphery thereof into and out of the path of the laminae delivered to said chute for causing said laminae to be advanced to said rollers, means for effecting the reciprocal movement of said brush, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means.

3. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame and having superimposed upper and lower plates grooved to receive vertically-disposed horizontally-moving lamina and support the same vertically on edge, a laminae magazine mounted to traverse said jig, a chute of narrow cross section sufficient to support individual laminae vertically on edge and mounted on said magazine to move horizontally in the plane between said laminasupporting plates so as to direct laminae in the plane of said chute lengthwise from said chute into said jig, means for intermittently advancing said magazine and chute horizontally along said jig to bring the chute into successive registration with the vertically-spaced laminwreceiving grooves of said jig, means for successively transferring laminae from said magazine to said chute,

a pair of high-speed continuously-rotating rollers located at the delivery end of said chute for injecting said lamina into said jig grooves, means for advancing lamina received in said chute into engagement with said rollers, and control mechnism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means whereby said means for transferring lamina from said magazine to said chute occurs during the intermittent advances of said chute along said jig and the advance of said laminae in said chute occurs when said chute is stationary.

4. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame and grooved to receive and support laminae in a predetermined assembly, a laminae magazine mounted to traverse said jig, a chute associated with said magazine so as to direct laminae from said magazine into said jig, means for advancing said magazine and chute along said jig to bring the chute into successive registration with the lamina-receiving grooves of said jig, means for successively transferring lamina from said magazine to said chute, a pair of high-speed continuously-rotating rollers located at the delivery end of said chute for injecting said lamina into said jig grooves, a continuously-rotating brush mounted for reciprocal movement to bring the periphery thereof into and out of, the path of the lamina delivered to said chute for causing said lamina to be advanced to said rollers, means for effecting the reciprocal movement of such brush, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means.

5. A lamina-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame and grooved to receive and support lamina in a predetermined assembly, a laminae magazine mounted to traverse said jig, a chute associated with said magazine so as to direct lamina from said magazine into said jig, means for intermittently advancing said magazine and chute along said jig to bring the chute into successive registration with the lamina receiving grooves of said jig, selector means operable for transferring lamina one at a time from said magazine to said chute, means for advancing said lamina in said magazine into the path of said selector, means other than and operating independently of said selector means for injecting lamina from said chute into said jig, means actuated by said selector means for regulating the operation of said lamina-advancing means, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of said selector means and said laminaand chute-advancing means and said lamina-injecting means whereby the transfer of a lamina from said magazine to said chute occurs during the intermittent advancing movements of said chute and said laminaeinjecting means operates intermediate said intermittent advancing movements of said chute.

6. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame and grooved to receive and support lamina in a predetermined assembly, a laminae magazine mounted to traverse said jig, a chute associated with said magazine so as to direct lamina from said magazine into said jig, means for advancing said magazine and chute along said jig to bring the chute into successive registration with the lamina-receiving grooves of said jig, a suction member mounted for reciprocating action be tween the foremost lamina in said magazine and a lamina-stripping member adjacent said chute whereby lamina are transferred one at a time from said magazine to said chute, means for reciprocatin said suction member, means for injecting lamina from said chute into said jig, means for advancing the lamina in said magazine into the path of said suction member, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means.

'7. A lamina-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame and grooved to receive and support lamina in a predetermined assembly, a laminae magazine mounted to traverse said jig, a chute associated with said magazine so as to directlamina from said magazine into said jig, means for advancing said magazine and chute along said jig to bring the chute into successive registration with the lamina-receiving grooves of said jig, a suction member mounted for reciprocating action between the foremost lamina in said magazine and a laminae-stripping member adjacent said chute whereby lamina are transferred one at a time from said magazine to said chute, means for reciprocating said suction member, means for injecting lamina from said chute into said jig, an electrically-operated motor for advancing the lamina in said magazine into the path of said suction member, switch means arranged to control the starting and stopping of said motor, switch-shifting means actuated by said suction member whereby the operation of said motor is regulated to maintain the foremost lamina in the said magazine within the effective range of said suction member, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of said suction-member reciprocating-means with said magazineand chute-advancing means and said lamina-injecting means.

8. A lamina-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame and grooved to receive and support lamina in a predetermined assembly, a carriage mounted to traverse said jig, a pair of vertically-spaced walls arranged on said carriage and forming a chute adapted to direct lamina into said jig, said walls having their upper ends oppositely divergent with the upper end of one of said walls extending above the upper end of the other said Wall, means for injecting lamina from said chute into said jig, a magazine arranged on said carriage at one side of said chute below the upper end of said other wall, a vertically-moving lamina-supporting platform for said magazine, a suction member reciprocatingly movable through said one wall above said chute and into position to select the uppermost lamina in said magazine and bring it into contact with said one Wall for stripping it from said suction member for delivery into said chute, means for reciprocating said suction member,

means for elevating said platform, means for moving said carriage along said jig to bring the delivery end of said chute into successive registration with the lamina-receiving grooves of said jig, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means.

9. A lamina-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame and grooved to receive and support lamina in a predetermined assembly, a carriage mounted to traverse said jig, a pair of vertically-spaced walls arranged on said carriage and forming a chute adapted to direct lamina into said jig, said wall-s having their upper ends oppositely divergent with the upper end of one of said walls extending above the upper end of the other said Wall, a pair 15 of high-speed continuously-rotating "roller located at the delivery end of said chute in position to receive laminae for injecting them into said jig, a continuously-rotating brush mounted for reciprocal movem nt to bring the periphery of said brush into and out of the path of the lamina delivered to said chute for causing said laminae to be advanced to said rollers, means for effecting the reciprocal movement of said brush, a magazine arranged on said carriage at one side of said chute below the upper end of said other wall, a vertically-movin lamina-supporting platform for said magazine, a suction member reciprocatingly movable trough said one wall above said chute and into position to select the uppermost lamina in. said magazine and bring it into contact with said one wall fo stripping it from said suction member for delivery into said chute, means for reciprocating said suction member, means for elevating said platform, means for moving said carriage along said jig to bring the delivery end of said chute into successive registration with the laminreueceiving grooves of said jig, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means.

10. A. laminaeassembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame and grooved to receive and support laminae in a predetermined assembly, a carriage mounted to traverse said jig, a pair of vertically-spaced walls arranged on said. carriage and forming a chute adapted to di ect lamina into said jig, said walls havin their upper ends oppositely divergent with the upper end of one of said walls. extending above the upper end of the other said wall, means for injecting laminae from said chute into said jig, a magazine arranged on said carriage at one side of said chute below the upper end of said other wall, a vertically-moving lamina-supporting platform for said magazine, a suction member reciprocatingly movable through said one wall above said chute and into position. to select the uppermost lamina in said magazine and bring it into contact with said one wall for stripping it from said suction member for delivery into said chute, a motor for reciprocating said suction member, a second motor for actuating said magazine platform, an electrical circuit connected to said platform-actuating motor and including a magnetic switch for controlling the starting and stopping of said motor, pair of micro-switches adapted to control said magnetic switch so as to effect the operation of said magazine-platform motor to maintain the foremost lamina in said magazine within the most effective operational range of said suction member, means associated with said suction member for actuating said microswitches, means for moving said carriage along said jig to bring the deliver end of said chute into successive registration with the laminae-receiving grooves of said jig, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of said carriageadvancing motor with the operation of said suction-member motor.

11. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on frame to receive and support lamina in a pre later-mined assembly, a carriage mounted on said frame to traverse said jig, laminae-magazine arranged on said carriage, a chute associated with said maga zine and adapted so as to direct lamina from said magazine into said jig, means for successively transferring lamina from said magazine to said chute, means for injecting laminae from said chute into said jig, means for advancing lamina in said magazine into the path of said laminatransferring means, a main power unit connected to move said carriage along said jig, a motor for operating said laminae-transferring means, a second motor for operating said laminae-advancing means, a third motor for operating said chuteinjection means, motor-actuating means connected with said main power unit and controlling the operation of the motor for said laminaetransferring means, a, magnetic switch for controlling the operation of the motor for said laminae-advancing means, and a plurality of micro-switches connected in circuit with said magnetic switch, a pair of said micro-switches being positioned for actuation by said laminaetransferring means and correlated with a microswitch positioned for actuation by said carriageadvancing means so as to control the operation of the motor for said laminae-advancing means to maintain the foremost lamina in said magazine within the most effective operational range of said laminae-transferring means.

12. A laminae-assembling machine comprisin a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame to receive and support laminae in a predetermined assembly, a carriage mounted on said frame to traverse said jig, a laminae-magazine arranged on said carriage, a chute associated with said magazine and adapted so as to direct laminae from said magazine into said jig, means for successively transferring laminae from said magazine to said chute, means for injecting laminae from said chute into said jig, means for advancing laminae in said magazine into the path of said laminae-transferring means, a main power unit connected to move said carriage along said jig, a motor for operating said laminae-transferring means, a second motor for operating said laminae-advancing means, a third motor for operating said chuteinjection means, motor-actuating means connected with said main power unit and controlling the operation of the motor for said laminaetransferring means, a magnetic switch for con trolling the operation of the motor for said laminae-advancing means, a plurality of microswitches connected in circuit with said magnetic switch, a pair of said micro-switches being positioned for actuation by said laminaetransferring means and correlated with a micro-switch positioned for actuation by said carriage-advancing means so as to control the operation of the motor for said laminae-advancing means to maintain the foremost lamina in said magazine Within the most effective operational range of said laminae-transferring means, and an. additional micro-switch mounted on said magazine and actuatable by said laminae-advancing means to cut out the motor therefor when said laminaeadvancing means has reached the limit of advancing said laminae.

13. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame to receive and support laminae in a predetermined assembly, a carriage, a main power unit for moving said carriage along said jig, a pair of vertical walls mounted on said carriage to form a chute having the delivery end thereof positioned to direct laminae into said jig as said carriage is moved along said jig, the back wall of said pair of walls extending above the forward wall and being inclined rearwardly to serve as a laminae-stripping plate for the hereinaftermentioned laminae-selector, a pair' of highspeed continuously-rotating rollers located at the delivery end of said chute for injecting laminaeinto said jig, a continuously-rotating brush mounted for reciprocal movementto project the periphery thereof through an opening in said chute back wall into the path of laminae delivered to said chute for causing said laminae to be advanced to said rollers, a magazine mounted on said carriage forwardly of said chute front wall, a platform for supporting laminae in said magazine andmovable along said magazine for advancing laminae into the path of the hereinafter-mentioned laminae-selector, a laminae-selector in the form of a pair of suction arms iournalled on said chute back wall and extending through said stripper plate portion thereof and adapted to be reciprocated from a position engaging the uppermost lamina in said magazine to a position rearwardly of said stripper plate whereby in passing rearwardly of said stripper plate laminae are transferred from said magazine to said chute, a motor for operating said suction arms, means actuated by said main power unit for controlling the operation of said suction-arms motor, control means actuated by said suction-arms for effecting the operation of said magazine-platform motor, and means actuated by said suction-arms motor for shifting said constantly-rotating brush into the path of laminae in said chute.

1 14. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame to receive and support laminae in a predetermined assembly, a carriage, a, main power unit for moving said carriage along said jig, a pair of vertical walls mounted on said carriage to form a chute having the delivery end thereof positioned to direct laminae into said jig as said carriage is moved along said jig, the back wall of said pair of walls extending above the forward wall and being inclined rearwardly to serve as a laminae-stripping plate for the hereinaftermentioned laminae-selector, a pair of high-speed advancing laminae into the path of the herein after-mentioned laminae-selector, a laminaeselector in the form of a pair of suction arms journalled on said chute back wall and extending through said stripper plate portion thereof and adapted to be reciprocated from a position engaging the uppermost lamina in said magazine to a position rearwardly of said stripper plate whereby in passing rearwardly of said stripper plate the laminae are transferred from said magazine to said chute, an air pressure motor for reciprocating said suction arms, an air pressure valve connected to a source of air pressure and to said air pressure motor, means operated by said main power unit and synchronized with the movement of said carriage along said jig, for actuating said air-pressure valve, control means actuated by said suction arms for effecting the operation of said magazine-platform motor, and means operated by said air-pressure motor for shifting said constantly-rotating brush into the path of the laminae in said chute.

18, 15. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a grooved jig mounted on said frame to receive laminae through the open side thereof and support said laminae in a predetermined assembly with said laminae disposed vertically in a, horizontal plane, a carriage, a main power unit ,for effecting an intermittent movement of said carriage along'the open side of said jig, a laminae-magazine mounted on said carriage, a chute associated with said magazine and having its delivery end positioned to direct laminae into said jig between advances of said carriage along said, jig, reciprocating selector means for transferring laminae from said magazine to said chute, means other than and operatingindependently of said selector means for injecting laminae fromsaid chute into said jig pendently of said main power unit for operating said selector means, means associated with said main power unit for controlling the operation of said selector-means motor, and means associated with said selector means for controlling the operation er said laminae-advancing means.

16. A laminae-assembling machine comprising a supporting frame, a jig mounted on said frame to receive and support laminae in a predetermined assembly, a carriage, a main power unit for moving said carriage along said jig, a laminaemagazine mounted on said carriage, a chute associated with said magazine and having its delivery end positioned to direct laminae into said jig as said carriage is moved along said jig, reciprocating'selector means for transferring laminae from said magazine to said chute, means for injecting laminae from said chute into said jig grooves, an electrical motor for advancing said laminae in said magazine into the path of said selector means, an air pressure motor for operating said selector means, an air-pressure valve connected to a source of air pressure and to said air-pressure motor, means operated by said main power unit and synchronized with the movement of said carriage along said jig for actuating said airpressure valve, and electrical means mechanically actuated by said selector means for regulating the operation of said laminae-advancing motor.

17. A laminae-assembling machine comprising, a laminae-receiving element, a chute for delivering laminae to said laminae-receiving element, means for delivering laminae one at a time to said chute, a pair of high-speed continuously-rotating rollers located at the delivery end of said chute for injecting said vertically-disposed laminae horizontally from said chute into said receiving element, a continuously-rotating brush mounted for reciprocal movement to bring the periphery thereof into and out of the path of the laminae delivered to said chute for causing said laminae to be advanced to said rollers, means for effecting the reciprocal movement of said brush, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means.

18. A laminae-assembling machine comprising, a supporting frame, a laminae-receiving element mounted thereon, a narrow vertically-disposed open-top chute for supporting individual laminae vertically on edge and positioned so as to have laminae vertically-disposed in said chute and discharged therefrom horizontally into said laminae-receiving element, a magazine located at one side of said chute to support laminae in superimposed relationship transversely of the plane of said chute with the uppermost lamina adjacent the open top of said chute, reciprocating selector means'adapted to successively engage the uppermost lamina in said magazine and convey said lamina to a position above the open top of said chute with the plane of said lamina disposed substantially vertical, stripper means for disengaging said lamina from said selector means to permit said lamina to gravitateinto a vertically-disposed position in said chute, means other than and operating independently of said selector means for injecting said lamina from said chute into said laminae-receiving element, and control mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the aforesaid means.

19; A laminae-assembling machine comprising,

a supporting frame; a grooved jig mounted on said frame to receive and support laminae in a predetermined assembly, a carriage, a main power unitifor moving said carriage along said jig, a laminae magazine mounted on said carriage, a chute associated with said magazine and having its deliveryend positioned to direct laminae into said jig between the advances of said carriage along said jig, connections between said main power unit andv said carriage for intermittently advancing said carriage along said jig to bring said. chute into registration with the laminaereceiving grooves in said jig, reciprocating selector means mounted onsaid carriage for transferring laminae; from said magazine to said chute,

means for inj'ecting laminae from said-chute into said jig gIODV-BS, a' motor for'advancing said laminae said-magazine into the path of said selector means, a motor onisaid carriage for operatingsaid selector means; cam-actuated-meansass0- ciated with said main powerunit a-nd synchronized with said connections-for effecting the op eration of said selector-means; motor inter-mediate the intermittent-movements of said carriage.

FRED MPYOUNG.

REFERENCES: CITED-1'.

The following references are of record in the fileof this patent? UNITE-o sirATEs PATENTS.

2,307,194 Benning V Jan. 5, 1943 

